Comprehensive Analysis of N6-Methyladenosine (m6A) Writers, Erasers, and Readers in Cervical Cancer

oleh: Mateja Condic, Damian J. Ralser, Niklas Klümper, Jörg Ellinger, Maryam Qureischi, Eva K. Egger, Glen Kristiansen, Alexander Mustea, Thore Thiesler

Format: Article
Diterbitkan: MDPI AG 2022-06-01

Deskripsi

There is growing scientific evidence for the crucial role of post-transcriptional RNA modifications in carcinogenesis, progression, metastasis, and drug resistance across various cancer entities. N6-methyladenosine (m6A) is the most abundant type of RNA modification. m6A is coordinated by a dynamic interplay of ‘writers’ (METTL3, METTL4, METTL14, WTAP, KIAA1429), ‘erasers’ (FTO, ALKBH5), and ‘readers’ (HNRNPA2B1, HNRNPC, YTHDC1, YTHDC1, YTHDF1-3). In this study, we comprehensively examined protein and mRNA expression levels of m6A writers, readers, and erasers in two cervical cancer (CC) cohorts (UHB CC cohort, <i>N</i> = 118; TCGA CC cohort, <i>N</i> = 307) with regard to clinical outcomes. In the UHB CC cohort, high protein expression levels of METTL14 (<i>p</i> = 0.016), WTAP (<i>p</i> = 0.007), KIAA1439 (<i>p</i> < 0.001), ALKBH5 (<i>p</i> < 0.001), HNRNPC (<i>p</i> = 0.012), YTHDC1 (<i>p</i> < 0.001), and YTHDF3 (<i>p</i> = 0.004) were significantly associated with a shorter overall survival (OS). In the TCGA CC cohort, mRNA expression levels of <i>METTL14</i> (<i>p</i> = 0.012), <i>WTAP</i> (<i>p</i> = 0.041), <i>KIAA1429</i> (<i>p</i> = 0.016), and <i>YTHDC1</i> (<i>p</i> = 0.026) showed prognostic values. However, after correction for multiple testing, statistical significance remained only for m6A protein expression levels (<i>q</i> < 0.1). Our study points towards dysregulated m6A modification in CC. Hence, m6A might serve as a promising prognostic biomarker and therapeutical target in CC.